Who we are
Our Team
NEASC is made up of three Commissions which work in close partnership to ensure quality education for all students in public, independent, and international schools, districts, and centers around the world. NEASC has a central staff and a global network of thousands of volunteers. Professional staff is available to ensure full participation at all levels ranging from accreditation to educational collaborations that strengthen education.
NEASC Staff
Cameron C. Staples, President/CEO of NEASC since 2011, develops and implements the Association’s strategic direction, ensures the value and relevance of the NEASC accreditation process, and builds partnerships with education agencies, as well as domestic and foreign government leaders, to strengthen the role of accreditation as a mechanism for educational accountability and institutional improvement. [view profile]
Board of Trustees
NEASC is managed by a Board of Trustees, which oversees the affairs of the Association. The various NEASC Commissions are empowered to manage their own accreditation processes and procedures and apply their standards, once approved by the Association Board of Trustees. Additionally, the Board of Trustees is empowered, upon the recommendation of a Commission, to grant candidacy or initial accreditation and to serve as a mechanism through which institutions may appeal an adverse action regarding their affiliation.
2023 Board Meetings: February 10, May 4-5, September 7-8, December (TBD)
Board Officers
Chair
Celeste Bowler
Assistant Superintendent
East Providence Public Schools
East Providence, RI
Chair-elect
Gregory B. Myers
Superintendent
Millbury Public Schools
Millbury, MA
Treasurer
Laura G. Warner
Vice President, Business Banking Officer
Biddeford Savings Bank
Biddeford, ME
Secretary
Elizabeth W. Huergo
General Director
American Institute of Monterrey
Monterrey, Mexico
Commission Chairs
Independent Schools
Angela Pohlen
Executive Director
Catholic Academy of Bridgeport
Bridgeport, CT
International Education
Howard Thiery
Superintendent
Regional School District 10
Burlington, CT
Public Schools
Kevin McCaskill
Executive Director
Madison Park Technical Vocational High School
Hyde Park, MA
Members-at-Large
Independent Schools
Thomas E. Hassan
President, School Year Abroad
North Andover, MA
International Education
Paul M. Fochtman
Head of School
Frankfurt International School
Oberursel/Wiesbaden, Germany
Christine L. McGrath
Director of Operations
Massachusetts Association of School Superintendents
Gloucester, MA
Public Schools
Robert N. Baldwin
Executive Director
MSAA/MIAA
Franklin, MA
Sharon Cournoyer
Superintendent
Regional District 19
Storrs, CT
Public Members
CONNECTICUT
James W. Abrams
Judge, Connecticut Superior Court
Meriden, CT
MAINE
Theodore N. Scontras
Saco, ME
MASSACHUSETTS
Paul Daigle
North Falmouth, MA
NEW HAMPSHIRE
To be announced
RHODE ISLAND
To be announced
VERMONT
Eileen M. Illuzzi
Newport, Vermont
NEASC Commissions
NEASC is made up of three commissions which work in close partnership to ensure quality education for all students in public, independent, and international schools, districts, and centers around the world.
Commission on Independent Schools - About
The NEASC Commission on Independent Schools is made up of school heads, senior administrators and public members. Members are selected for three-year terms (renewable once) at the December annual meeting of delegates. In drawing up a slate, the Commission reviews nominations submitted by heads of school, and takes into consideration such factors as the balance between elementary and secondary schools, representation of all six states, and a mix of types of school – single sex and coed, boarding and day, religious and secular, large and small, urban and rural, etc. – that reflects the membership.
The Commission meets three times a year to review reports from schools and Visiting Teams.
Upcoming Commission meetings:
- February 6-7, 2023
- Oversee the accreditation process, policies and procedures.
- Recommend changes in Standards to the Board of NEASC.
- Receive reports from visiting teams and from schools throughout the decennial cycle.
- Decide on accreditation status of schools.
- Report to the Board of NEASC concerning candidacy, initial or continued accreditation, or removal from accreditation.
- The Commission typically holds two-day meetings in February, June, and November.
- Schools are reviewed by one of two committees consisting of both elementary and secondary members.
- One member reviews the Self-study, financial data and Visiting Team Report and makes a recommendation to the Commission.
- All Commission members have access to the Visiting Team Report and participate in discussion.
- Schools that fail one or more standards at the time of the visit must document their compliance within one year.
- All schools must file a 2-year Interim Evaluation Report, addressing the major recommendations in the self-study and visiting committee report, and providing information on finances.
- All schools must file a 5-year Interim Evaluation Report, updating the Commission on changes, reviewing compliance with the standards, presenting current long-range plans, and submitting financial information.
- The Commission may request a Special Progress Report on any subject and timetable.
- The Commission may schedule a Focused Visit to the school following a Special Progress Report. All schools must file an Annual Report with data on enrollment and tuition, and information on any substantive change.
- Initial or Continuing Accreditation
- Tabling of Initial Accreditation
- Continuing Accreditation on Warning (Special Report and Focused Visit within One Year)
- Probation Recommendation to Drop from Membership (if terms of Probation are not met)
Commission on Independent Schools - Members
Chair of the Commission
Angela Pohlen
Executive Director, Catholic Academy of Bridgeport, Bridgeport, CT
Commission Members
Noor Ali
Principal, Al-Hamra Academy
Shrewsbury, MA
Cliona Beaulieu
Head of School, Enfield Montessori School
Enfield, CT
Linda Brodeur
President, Bishop Guertin High School
Nashua, NH
Matthew Glendinning
Head of School, Hopkins School
New Haven, CT
Traci Griffith
Director, Racial Justice Program
American Civil Liberties Union of MA
Laurie Hurd
Director of Development, Hyde School
Bath, ME
Bridget Irish
Head of School, Cotting School
Lexington, MA
Lisa Lanni
Principal, Holy Trinity Catholic Academy
Shelton, CT
John Lin
Plymouth, NH
Arthur Lisi
Principal, Monsignor Matthew F. Clarke Regional School
Wakefield, RI
Robin Lowe
Principal, North Shore Christian School
Lynn, MA
Erin Mayo
Head of School, Fryeburg Academy
Fryeburg, ME
Doris Messina
Stonington, CT
Nancy Naimey
Principal, Saint James School
Biddeford, ME
Jeffrey Philbrick
Headmaster, Jesse Remington High School
Candia, NH
Ryan Plosker
Headmaster and Founder, New England Academy
Beverly, MA
Daniel Richard
Principal, St. Raphael Academy
Pawtucket, RI
Jennifer Roy
Head of School, Trinity Catholic Academy
Brockton, MA
Randall Smith
Assistant Head of School and CFO, The Putney School
Putney, VT
Mark Tashjian
Headmaster, Burr and Burton Academy
Manchester, VT
Margaret Williamson
Principal, St. Mary’s School
Simsbury, CT
Carrie Wilson
Head of School, Bishop John A. Marshall School
Morrisville, VT
Commission on International Education - About
The NEASC Commission on International Education is a 16-member panel of professional educators and one public member selected to represent our diverse membership. Commission members serve for three-year terms (renewable once).
Using the established Standards and Principles for international schools, Commission members meet three times a year to review Visiting Team Reports for continued and initial accreditation, along with other reports from school accreditation visits around the world. The Commission members also assist NEASC in discussing topics of relevance to current and future member schools.
Commission on International Education - Members
Chair of the Commission
Howard Thiery
Superintendent, Regional School District 10
Burlington, CT
Commission Members
Dr. Shalini Advani
Director, Pathways Noida
India
Dr. Thomas J. Banks
Vice President, Education/Head of Schools
USA
Nikolas Bishop
Director, International School of Stavanger
Norway
Pilar Cabeza de Vaca
Partner, Educators' Collaborative
Tim Carr
Head of School, Avenues: The World School
Williamstown, Massachusetts, USA
Jean Claude Chalouhi
Superintendent, English Modern School
Qatar
Brad Choyt
Former Head of School, Crossroads Academy
Lyme, NH, USA
Jonathan Costa
Assistant Executive Director, EdAdvance
Litchfield, CT, USA
Melania Horcajuelo Torres
Director, Madrid Active School
Spain
Ji Han
Director of Curriculum, Graland Country Day School
USA
Andreas G. Koini
Head of School, The Antwerp International School
Belgium
Jeremy Lewis
Head of School, ACS International School - Egham
England
Kelly M. Lyman
Superintendent, Mansfield Public Schools
Mansfield, CT, USA
Nancy Meislahn
Dean of Admission and Financial Aid Emerita, Wesleyan
Middletown, CT, USA
Kathleen Naglee
Head of School, International School of Helsinki
Finland
Richard Pacheco
International Educator
Madrid, Spain
Mark Schulz
Deputy Director, Zurich International School
Switzerland
Commission on Public Schools - About
The NEASC Commission on Public Schools is a panel of 40+ professionals selected to represent our diverse membership from across New England. Individuals on the Commission include school and central office administrators, teachers, and members from the public sector. Commission members are nominated by member school principals or may self-nominate. A nominating subcommittee brings nominations forward for vote by the entire Commission. Any openings on the Commission are made public and announced to the member schools.
Responsibilities
Using the Standards for Accreditation for public schools, the Commission members meet regularly throughout the year to review accreditation reports submitted by and about member schools, and provide commendations and recommendations specific to each school. This feedback serves as a roadmap for individualized and ongoing school growth and improvement for student learning. In addition, Commission members determine the accreditation status of each member school.
Commission members serve on one of the two Committees which are divided in order to focus on the specific needs of:
- elementary, middle, and high schools
- career and technical schools and centers
Committee on Public Elementary, Middle, and High Schools - Members
The NEASC Committee on Elementary, Middle, and High Schools is a subgroup of the Commission on Public Schools comprised of members drawn from across the six New England states. Formed in the fall of 2019 by merging the Committee on Public Secondary Schools with the Committee on Public Elementary and Middle Schools, the Commission had the goal of increasing the Committee's diversity by adding more teachers, school counselors, library media specialists, and other educational professionals as members. The category of Educational Partners (e.g., representatives of state departments of education, higher education, public members, and members of partner organizations) was also added.
Chair of the NEASC Commission on Public Schools
Kevin McCaskill
Executive Director, Madison Park Technical Vocational High School, Hyde Park, MA
Current Committee Members
Committee members may serve a maximum of two consecutive three-year terms on the committee. The chairperson is selected by the Committee for a two-year term.
CONNECTICUT
Christian Canfield
Science Dept. Chair, Newtown High School, Sandy Hook
Jade Gopie
Principal, Waterbury Career Academy High School, Waterbury
Anna Mahon
Principal, Amity Regional Senior High School, Woodbridge
Maria Christina (Tina) Rivera
Principal, Academy of Information Technology and Engineering, Stamford
Catherine Sosnowski
Retired Assistant Principal, Bristol
Daniel P. Sullivan
Superintendent, Putnam Public Schools, Putnam
MAINE
Gretchen McNulty, Director of Learning
Falmouth School Department
MASSACHUSETTS
Amy Cetner
Principal, Bourne High School
Michael Crowley
Teacher of Engineering & Robotics, Norwood High School
Christopher Lord
Assistant Superintendent, Peabody School District
Bruce Pontbriand
Human Capital Coordinator, Accreditation, Boston Public Schools
Andrew Stephens
Principal, Lexington High School
NEW HAMPSHIRE
Susan Schroeter
Principal, Unity Elementary School
Brett Thompson
English Teacher, Merrimack Valley High School
RHODE ISLAND
Christopher Ashley
Principal, Tiverton High School
Kevin McNamara
Assistant Superintendent, Lincoln Public Schools
VERMONT
John Broadley
Assistant Principal, Bellows Falls Union High School
Committee on Technical and Career Institutions - Members
The NEASC Committee on Career and Technical Institutions is a subgroup of the Commission on Public Schools. The Committee consists of faculty and senior administrators from member institutions, as well as representatives of the public who have worked outside education.
Chair of the NEASC Commission on Public Schools
Kevin McCaskill
Executive Director, Madison Park Technical Vocational High School, Hyde Park, MA
Current Committee Members
Committee members are selected by the membership and may serve two three-year terms. Public members may serve two two-year terms. Committee member perspectives are informed by their own experience and knowledge of education. They are bound by explicit ethical standards to prevent conflict of interest.
CONNECTICUT
Patricia Feeney
Principal, Ella T. Grasso Southeastern Technical High School
Richard Shellman
Principal, Oliver Wolcott Technical High School
MAINE
Robert Callahan
Director, Lewiston Regional Technical Center, Lewiston
MASSACHUSETTS
Kelly Fay
Coordinator of Curriculum & Staff Development, Whittier Regional Vocational Technical High School
Justin Kratz
Principal, Charles H. McCann Technical High School
NEW HAMPSHIRE
Open
RHODE ISLAND
William McCaffrey
Director of Secondary Education, Warwick Public Schools
VERMONT
Carolyn Dickinson
Assistant Director, Center for Technology, Essex, Essex Junction
William Lucci
Chair of the Committee
Assistant Director for Adult Education, Stafford Technical Career Center
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